The Texts for the 19th Sunday after the Pentecost, September 25th, 2016

First Reading: Amos 6:1a, 4-7

 1aAlas for those who are at ease in Zion,

  and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria,

 4Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,

  and lounge on their couches,

 and eat lambs from the flock,

  and calves from the stall;

 5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,

  and like David improvise on instruments of music;

 6who drink wine from bowls,

  and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

  but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

 7Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,

  and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

Psalm: Psalm 146

1 Hallelujah!

Praise the LORD, O my soul! 

    I will praise the LORD as long as I live;

    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, 

    for there is no help in them.

3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, 

    and in that day their thoughts perish.

4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! 

    whose hope is in the LORD their God;

5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; 

    who keeps his promise for ever;

6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, 

    and food to those who hunger.

7 The LORD sets the prisoners free;

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; 

    the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;

8 The LORD loves the righteous;

the LORD cares for the stranger; 

    he sustains the orphan and widow,

    but frustrates the way of the wicked.

9 The LORD shall reign for ever, 

    your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.

    Hallelujah!

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

6Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 8but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

  11But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

  17As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

[Jesus said:] 19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house—28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”